Chris Burnett

About Chris Burnett

Chris Burnett (born Christopher LeRoy Burnett on November 2, 1955) is an American saxophone player, composer, veteran of US military jazz bands and band leader. Born in Olathe, Kansas, Burnett's family moved relatively frequently during his early childhood due to his father being a member of the active US military service. His sibling family lived at places such as: France, Michigan, and Colorado prior to settling permanently back home in the Kansas City metro area.

Burnett was first exposed to music at an early age through the piano by his mother (Violet Lorraine Burnett), and later studied vocal music through the youth choir program at his church under the direction of Nevada Rosbia. Burnett took to music intuitively and his introduction to saxophone and clarinet began through the instrumental music program at school. James R. Fuchs was his primary music teacher who also exposed him to some of the local and internationally recognized professional saxophone players like Charles Molina and Gary Foster who visited the school periodically during the early 1970s. Unable to afford college tuition, prior to graduation from high school in May of 1974, Burnett auditioned for and was accepted to the music programs of both, the US Air Force and US Army bands.

Initially joining the U.S. military bands was intended to provide funding for college using the G.I. Bill education benefits that were available at that time. However, Burnett excelled musically and due to his background of being from a military family, he was successful in meeting the demands required of service as a uniformed musician as well. Burnett was able to maintain a balance between his responsibilities to the music and to the military. Thus, his skills continued to develop throughout his entire 20-year career toward his mastery of most all of the areas required of a person engaged in working within the music profession (performance, composition, arranging, teaching, management and leadership). He concluded his career at the rank of First Sergeant and in the position of Enlisted Bandleader, which was the highest position attainable for performing artists working in the military music system. He is a highly decorated military veteran, who has performed thousands of concerts and whose formal honors include: the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal and (two awards of) the Army Meritorious Service Medal, among many other awards, certificates and letters. Burnett with his wife, Terri, moved back home to his native Kansas City area in 2001 and has been based out of the KC area since that time. Although he has led several groups over the years, his main group Chris Burnett Quartet began in 2001 and is still active today.